Iranian Kurd leader says West shouldn’t be fooled by Rouhani
BERLIN (Reuters) – The leader of an armed Iranian Kurdish group says new President Hassan Rouhani is taking advantage of the West’s wary optimism towards him to step up pressure on citizens at home, particularly Kurds, and has markedly increased execut…
Netherlands to send peacekeepers, helicopters to Mali
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Netherlands said on Friday it would send combat helicopters and around 380 troops to boost a U.N.-led peacekeeping mission trying to stabilize Mali after a coup and an Islamist incursion.
Filmed beating raises questions over migrant rights in Saudi
DUBAI (Reuters) – A video apparently showing a Saudi man beating an Asian employee for talking to his wife has prompted calls for an official investigation, a rights official said on Friday.
Four Palestinian militants killed in Gaza clashes with Israel
GAZA (Reuters) – An Israeli air strike killed three militants in the Gaza Strip on Friday, the Islamist group Hamas said, hours after an overnight clash killed a fourth Palestinian gunman and wounded five Israeli soldiers.
Kerry to visit Egypt, tensions high before Mursi trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Egypt a day before deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi goes on trial, the next likely flashpoint in the struggle between his Muslim Brotherhood and the army-backed interim government….
Japan, Russia agree on next step toward peace treaty
TOKYO (Reuters) – Foreign ministers from Japan and Russia on Friday agreed to hold a vice ministerial-level meeting early next year to work toward the resolution of an island dispute and signing of a peace treaty formally ending their World War Two hos…
Drone strike kills four in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – A drone strike killed four people in Pakistan’s lawless North Waziristan region on Friday, possibly including a senior Pakistani Taliban commander, intelligence sources said.
Kenyan press, opposition criticize proposed harsh media law
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan media and opposition politicians have criticized media rules proposed by the government, saying they would muzzle the press and stunt democracy in the country.
Shi’ite rebels attack north Yemen town, death toll rises
SANAA (Reuters) – Shi’ite Muslim Houthi rebels backed by tanks launched a fresh attack on Friday on a town in north Yemen held by their Sunni Muslim Salafi rivals, a Salafi spokesman said, bringing the total death toll in three days of sectarian clashe…
Snowden writes to Germans to seek support in spy row
BERLIN (Reuters) – Fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has told Germany he is counting on international support to stop Washington’s ‘persecution’ of him for revealing the scale of its worldwide phone and Internet surveillance.
